So you can see how a guy like Fred Bennett could have doubts about his career. Might feel cursed. Doomed even.

Nope.

Bennett insists he took the rejection like a man and simply waited for the next opportunity. It didn’t occur to him that his football days may be over.

“No, not at no point, not at all,” says the 28-year-old defensive back, smiling in the afternoon sunshine at McMahon Stadium. “Not much negative thoughts — that’s not me. I’m a positive guy. I just know that I have a lot of football left in me.

Sooner or later — and especially at this time of the year — the business side of professional football hits home.

And Saturday, it was the Calgary Stampeders’ linebacking corps getting the bad news that fellow trenchmate Robert McCune had been released.

“It’s tough,” said middle linebacker Juwan Simpson. “You build relationships and friendships with guys, me and him were good friends. But, it’s part of the business that’s unfortunate. It was a decision that was made for the best and we just have to continue on.”

In Friday’s 20-17 pre-season win over the Edmonton Eskimos, the man they call Hammer had a couple crushing tackles, but it was all for naught as age (McCune is 33) and versatility played a role in his dismissal Saturday.

The decision did not come easy to head coach and general manager John Hufnagel.